Saint Tarsicius(Tarcisius) the Acolyte was an early Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century. According to the Tradition, Tarcisius was a young boy during one of the fierce 3rd-century Roman persecutions during the reign of Emperor Valerian (253–259). One day, he was entrusted with the task of bringing the Eucharist to condemned Christians in prison. He preferred death at the hands of a mob rather than deliver to them the Blessed Sacrament which he was carrying. He was initially buried in the Catacombs of San Callisto and the inscription by Damasus was placed later on his tomb. Sometime later, his relics were moved to the San Silvestro in Capite church in Rome. His feast day is celebrated on 15 August; that day is widely observed as the Feast of the Assumption; therefore, he is not mentioned in the General Roman Calendar but only in Roman Martyrology. He is the patron saint of altar servers and first communicants.
Saint Augustine Moi Van Nguyen (†1839) was one of the martyrs of Vietnam. A Dominican tertiary, Augustine worked as a day laborer. When the persecution of the faith started, he was ordered to trample a crucifix, an act he refused and was strangled by his tormentors. He was beautified in 1900 and canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. His Feastday is commemorated on December 19.
The Ten Soldier-Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompius, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus suffered for Christ during the third century under the emperor Decius (249-251). The governor of Crete, also named Decius, fiercely persecuted the Church and arrested anyone who believed in Christ. Once, ten Christians were brought before him from various cities of Crete, who at the trial, steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to worship idols. For thirty days, they were subjected to cruel tortures, and with the help of God, they all persevered, glorifying God. Before their death, they prayed that the Lord would enlighten their torturers with the light of the true Faith. Since pain did not influence them, the saints were beheaded. Saint Paul of Constantinople (November 6) visited Crete about a hundred years later. He took the relics of the holy martyrs to Constantinople to serve as a protection for the city and a source of blessings for the faithful.
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